Building a Computer From the Bottom Up

By: Frank Hardy

Before you even think about building your own computer make sure
that you go for the best technology possible. This is an
important task and you want it to turn out as close to perfect
as possible. When your PC is complete you want it to have the
best hardware available.

One of the biggest benefits of building your own computer is
that you can customize it. You know what is most important to
you. Maybe you are a graphics user. MP3's might be the closest
thing you have to a best friend. Perhaps you are writing the
great American novel and you are mainly interested in text. If
you are building your own machine, you can concentrate on what
you want but if you're building it for a third party, you
obviously need to consult them first.

Collecting the hardware for your new computer is the most time
consuming part of the process. You want to make sure that you
get high standard equipment that works well with your needs.
Take your time and don't try to skimp on your hardware. If you
don't heed both of these suggestions, your computer could bite
back later.

If you are building your own PC, you probably know that the
Motherboard is the most important part of your computer.
Everything that you plug into your computer will meet here. Be
especially choosy when buying a motherboard. And make sure that
there is an instruction manual. Some cheapies will not have one.

Be aware that the Motherboard will control the future of your
computer. All upgrades will have to be compatible with your
Motherboard. The chipset in the Motherboard deserves careful
investigation. What will it support? Find out before you buy.
Take your time. There are a ton of chipsets out there.

Pay close attention to how many PCL slots the Mother board has.
The more, PLC slots the better because they fill up quickly. How
is the board laid out? Check for any problems such as something
blocking your long PCI slots.

When selecting a case, be aware of the form factor. You want an
ATX form factor because that is what almost all new systems are
operating on. Try to go with a screw free form factor because it
will be easier to work with. One equipped with fans would be
optimal.

Three are three groups of processors; low end, average and high
end. The low end processor is okay for simple tasks. Letters,
invoices and other noncomplex applications can be performed on a
low end processor. If you do choose to go with a low end
processor, realize that these are fast becoming outdated.

Average processors are faster and they are just a bit more
expensive. For a few extra dollars you will be able to access
higher level applications without hassle. This will provide more
speed as well satisfying the average computer user.

High end processors are the cream of the crop. They are
expensive and usually reserved for those on the high end of the
pay scale. You will have high memory and no problem accessing
complex CPU programs.

Memory is a vital element of your computer. Spend the money and
purchase the best you can afford. If you don't, more than likely
you will need to go out and repurchase a better processor later.
Also you will want to make sure you get memory that works with
your system.

Get a video card that suits your purposes. If you are a small
business owner, go with a cheaper, jack of all trades card. If
you are building this computer for home use you might as well
reward yourself with some perks. Now don't go and spend five
hundred dollars on a video card that a top financial institution
might buy. Purchase a card that provides just slightly more than
you need, but not so high end that it cost as much as the rest
of your hardware.

You have your mouse and keyboard, right? Get a good hard drive.
Buy a new one, opposed to used, to make sure you are getting the
best quality.

CD-ROM drivers are cheap. Spend a little extra cash and get a
really good one. If you want a more advanced unit, buy a DVD
player. A DVD player will play CD-ROM's and DVD's. It will serve
multiple purposes.

About the author:
Frank Hardy is a computer engineer based in the UK. He is also a
specialist in fingerprint technology and CCTV systems at
http://www.adeleurope.co.uk.